For a particular space, the essence of a light fixture goes beyond aesthetics and as such, the space has to consider the type of lighting fixture used. A common form of lighting fixtures are, surface-mounted lights and recessed lights. Although both types of fittings can meet the lighting needs of a space, the difference comes along in terms of fitting, designing and usage aspects. This article strives to showcase the key distinctions of these particular lighting types, so that the user is able to choose accordingly in the end.

1. Installation Method: Surface-Mounted vs. Recessed

Surface-Mounted Lights: Decorative, recessed or surface-mounted lighting is easily visible without the use of suspended ceilings or vertical partitions. In most cases, this method is easy to do because there is no need for drilling or making indentations on the walls. With those features, surface-mounted lights are a great option for DIY projects.

Recessed Lights: Also referred to as can lights or downlights, this type of light fixture is embedded in the ceiling or wall. In greater detail, a cut-out is made on the surface to embed this type of lighting, implying that it needs a more complex installation. Normally, a qualified and mostly trained electrician is called to accomplish this as specialized wiring and connections are made within the ceiling.

2. Aesthetic and Design Impact

Surface-Mounted Lights: Such fixtures create an impact, adding to the designs of the aesthetic in the rooms. These lights are fitted on the surfaces and can be shaped in various designs ranging from circular to triangular. They are ideal in a scenario where the lighting element is itself a design factor, for instance, modern or industrial themes.

Recessed Lights: Recessed lights are able to add to the décor’s appeal but do so in a manner that they do not draw attention to themselves as they seamlessly integrate with the ceiling or wall. It is easy to see what recessed lighting can do to a room as it not only does support having the lighting look good but more importantly allows the other parts of the room to take center stage. Because muted or unobtrusive spaces tend to be appealing, recessed LED lights are useful in bathrooms, offices, and kitchen lighting.

3. Light Joints And Angles

Surface-Mounted Lights: Quite easily more ideal for placing accent lights within any room as they do offer more illumination and such lights do consume the ceiling space as they are placed on surface mounted directly. On other areas such as surface mounted lights can be put to use for ambient lighting but such areas are dependant on the types of installed bulbs and such. Also, compared to recessed lights, surface lighting is felt to be more concentrated in light.

Recessed lights: On almost all occasions such You lights have been utilized for overall lighting or ambient lighting in the room, recessed in the room as much as possible. Such lights allow the room to maintain a more balanced diffusion across the space allowing for a lighter appearance. Furthermore, any excess recess depending on the bulb trim used can be corrected by tilting the recess in projecting light in almost any direction. Such lights are tremendously impactful towards achieving a goal of having a well lit room along with the desired effects lighted on any areas which feel need help.

4. Location Of the Light Together With Ceilings

Surface-Mounted Lights: If used in areas such as rooms with already low ceilings, the lights then can be an issue as they do consume leeway and therefore can be an issue on the low ceilings. However, such lights can be ideal for other rooms allowing for greater illumination as they can be mounted at certain heights which are significantly higher allowing for greater effect.

Recessed Lighting: Recessed lights do not provide any additional visible obstruction as they are placed within the suspended ceiling. This makes them suitable for use in space constrained areas as they do not interrupt the headspace and the visual perception of the room. On the other hand, for the purposes of installing the recessed lights, there should be sufficient height available in the ceiling to accommodate the embedded lights and the electrical wiring. This, however, may not be possible in some older buildings or spaces that have low ceiling heights.

5. Energy Efficiency and Cost

Surface Mounted Lights: Surface mounted lights are seeing more applications for their availability in energy efficient types like LEDs and CFL which assists in managing power usage. However, this is contingent upon the type of bulb used as their wider span & exposed fixture may result in consuming more energy than recessed lights when compared to the former.

Recessed Lighting: When utilizing LED light fixtures, the use of recessed lights has the tendency to be more efficient. They are also known to require less energy due to the fact that LED bulbs provide a more diffused light and are also compatible with dimmers. On the flip side, since recessed lights require modifications to the ceiling & professionals for installation, the cost can be higher.

6. Maintenance and Durability

Surface-Mounted Lights: Surface-mounted lights are relatively easy to maintain and change because they are attached on the surfaces. Therefore, accessibility is never an issue. When changing a broken bulb for instance, this is in most cases a rather straightforward exercise.

Recessed Lights: With recessed lights however, maintenance may not be that easy due to the fact the fixtures are not correctly positioned to allow easy access. If it is a case of a light bulb or fixture that has a problem, chances are that gaining access to the recessed light fixture will mean having to utilize tools or in some cases perform some work on the ceiling. But on the other hand, recessed lights are quite durable because they are well insulated and thus are less likely to be infiltrated by dust or other external influences.

Conclusion

Surface-mounted lights and recessed lights have their distinct features that are beneficial for specific lighting requirements and the apparent disadvantages for other usages. Surface mounted lighting on the other hand allows ease of installation, visibility of the fixtures after fixing, and design freedom in making the fittings, hence can be the best option for statement lighting. Contrasting, recessed lights on the other hand are less noticeable and more streamlined allowing a more easily defined modern minimalistic feel of the room through even lighting.

When selecting the two, take into account the rest of the room’s decor, the particular light you are looking to create, how high your ceilings are and what your energy targets are. Both styles are good in terms of aesthetics if used in the right environment, so consider the advantages and disadvantages of both and decide which style meets your lighting requirement most.